or "What do people really see?"

I have noticed and I’m sure other people have too that people don’t expect a kilt to be worn casually; it’s something I’ve noticed for a while now. Last night I wore this outfit to cadets,
A SWK heavy (Black Stewart), white t-shirt, boots, black hose, SWK cargo sporran and my green jacket. Normally I have a uniform which I would wear Shirt, Trousers, (highly polished) shoes, jumper, beret etc, which looks allot smarter than my usual attire. So I wasn’t expecting my O.C. to comment when I arrived last night that I looked very smart for a parade night.

Since this is a theory I have been working on for some time I tired some small experiments to see people’s reactions. I tried three outfits in the same place on the same day three weeks in a row in this instance the local golf club Wednesday evening.
Week one white shirt, green wool tie, black Trousers a few people asked why I was wearing a tie that about it no other comments.
Week two the same outfit except I swapped the Tie for a Bow tie (black) and nobody said a thing
Week three Black Stewart kilt, White t-shirt (with a picture of Mario on it) Red hose and boots and again I got comments on how smart I was looking and how the youth of today never make an effort etc

Personally I would think in this instance that I looked smarter the first two weeks because I was wearing my suit from work and all I changed was the tie.
I have come to the conclusion that people predominantly in Scotland (but I’m sure it applies to all people who see a kilt and know a bit about it) see the person in the kilt and it doesn’t matter what else they’re wearing see that person in the full PC outfit because that’s what they expect and it takes a few seconds for them to notice that I’m not usually by which time I’ve heard the “your looking very smart today!” comments.
So has anyone else experienced this when dressed anything other than formally I’m curious to hear your ideas and thoughts.

Jordan